Baseball mitt



Aug. 18, 1 31. E. w. m. "1.8 9048 BASEBALL MITT Filed May 6, 1930 Izaior:

Edwin W7}; ll,

Patented Aug. 18, 1931 UNETED STATES PATENT OFFICE EDWIN W. TILL, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO A. J. REACH GO1VlI-- PANY, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA BASEBALL MITT Application filed May 6, 1930. Serial No. 450,137.

My said invention relates to improvements in means for adjusting the hand insertion openin of base ball mitts for the purpose of holding the glove or mitt firmly on the 5 hand of the player.

The invention aims to provide a simple, economical and, eflicient form of means which can be readily applied to or embodied in the existing type of glove.

The invention further aims to provide a construction having a wide range of adjustment, and one in which the fastening or adjusting means will, at all times be in such condition as to prevent injury or discomfort to the back of the hand of the wearer under the severe stresses and impacts encountered in the game.

With these and other objects in view the invention includes the novel features of construction hereinafter described, the invention being defined by the claims appended hereto.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a back View of a mi t with the parts in unfastened position.

Fig. 2 is a similar view partly broken away, showing the adjusted or fastened position of the parts.

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a View of a modification.

Referring by reference characters to these drawings the numeral 1 designates the mitt as a whole, which, as it may be of the ordinary or any desired construction except as hereinafter specified, needs no further description, exceptpossibly to say that it includes the customary padded portion 1a and back portion 16 suit-ably secured thereto to provide the hand receiving pocket, with finger stalls or compartments (not shown).

Such back portion is provided with a cut away or recessed lower part as indicated at 2 to form a hand receiving recess, one lateral margin of the recess 2a being preferably projected towards the other margin 2?). A strap 3 has one end secured to the margin 26 by suitable means such as stitches as indi cated, and said strap is provided adjacent its free end with an aperture 4 (preferably eyeleted or reinforced at its edges) for the passage of a lacing thong 5.

A back layer 6 has its edges stitched to the backportio-n of the mitt and extends from the blunt tongue like margin 2a to the side ofthe mitt, and said back layer 6 has adjacent its inner end an elongated opening or slit6a adapted to permit the passage of the free or perforated end of the strap and is also provided adjacent its outer end with a pair of openings 6?) for passage of the lacing thongs. Said back layer 6 forms in connection with the back portion of the glove to which it is secured, a strap receiving pocket, the entrance to which is formed by the slit or opening 6a.

The thong 5 being threaded through the opening 4 to provide two free thong portions of substantially equal length, and these being threaded through the openings 6?) with the intermediate port-ions lying in the pocket, when it is desired to adjust or draw the lateral margins of the hand receiving opening towards each other to hold the mitt on the hand it is only necessary to pull on the free ends of the thongs, thereby drawing the tongue into, or further into, the pocket and tie the said free portions of the thongs into a knot as indicated in. Fig. 2.

By this construction fastening means is provided free from buckles or metal fastenings of any kind to injure the back of the hand, and only a broad strap passes over the back of the hand which strap, by reason of its telescopic connection with the pocke has ample movement for adjustment. Fur thermore, the arrangement is such that all the parts lie substantially flat against the back of the hand and there are no stiff up standing ridges or the like to produce injurious efiects.

After a mitt has become worn and stretched some players desire to take up on the fastening means until the lateral margins closely approach or touch each other. My improved construction enables this to be easily done as for this purpose it is only necessary to punch a fresh hole farther back from the free end of the tongue and thread 1 the thong therethrough, the projecting portion of the tongue being cut oil.

If desired such extra hole (or holes) may be made in the strap initially as shown at 4a, Fig. 4, the cut off line being indicated by the dotted line.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. A mitt having its back portion provided with a hand receiving recess, a strap having one end secured to one of the lateral margins of the recess and having a lacing eye adjacent its free end, a strap receiving pocket carried by the portion of glove adjacent the other margin, the rear wall of said pocket having a pair of lace receiving eyes remote from said other margin, and a lacing thong threaded through said eye in the strap and the eyes in the pocket Wall.

2. A mitt having its back portion provided with a hand receiving recess, a strap having one end secured to one of the lateral margins of the recess and having a lace receiving eye adjacent its free end, a pocket forming layer secured to said back portion adjacent the other margin and having a strap receiving slot closely adjacent said margin and a pair of eyes adjacent the side edge of the glove, and a lacing thong threaded through the eye to form a loop and having the free ends of the thong passing through the strap receiving slot and the said eyes, the said strap being held by said thong with its end passed through the slot and engaging the pocket.

3. A mitt according to claim 1 in which said strap receiving pocket has its entrance within the said margin, said strap overlying said margin and extending into said pocket entrance.

In testimony whereof, I aiiix my signature.

EDXVIN lV. TILL. 

